Satsang is a Sanskrit word that means “gathering together for the truth” or, more simply, “being with the truth.” We believe that life is a celebration and any activity that uplifts the spirit, inspires you and makes joy bubble up in your heart for no reason is a satsang. Listening to Gurudev is satsang. Singing and dancing together is satsang. Reflecting on the deeper questions that give meaning to life is satsang. Feeling bhakti or devotion well up within listening to a bhajan is satsang. In recent years education and brain research has come to the conclusion that we need to connect creative and intellectual activity, corresponding to the right and left halves of the brain, to function best. Too much of one or the other creates an unbalanced personality: for instance teenagers who have earphones plugged into their ears the whole day dull their intellects, whereas those who only engage in intellectual activity and never sing or dance can become a little stiff or unnatural in the company of others.Satsang is a perfect blend of of the two. On a more subtle level, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains that in most everyday activities we have separate opinions and thoughts. But when we sing and dance together, we are one. It is a common experience that parties relax you after a hard week’s work, satsang takes this to the next level by being healthier and therefore more relaxing. At the ashram, satsangs transcend cultures and bring people from over 150 countries together to enjoy music, dance without a care in the world, celebrate life, and meditate. The book ‘Satsang’ is a collection of 179 bhajans inspired by Gurudev.